HIGH FIVE: Friday beats Cramerton in five sets for fifth straight title

Friday

Dec 14, 2012 at 12:01 AMDec 14, 2012 at 11:06 PM

W.C. Friday’s final volleyball practice was much like the marathon of a championship game against Cramerton a day later.

Phillip Gardner

CRAMERTON — W.C. Friday’s final volleyball practice was much like the marathon of a championship game against Cramerton a day later.

“Yesterday’s practice I just went bam, bam, bam, so we didn’t really have many water breaks,” Friday coach Heather Pasour said. “I worked them. I knew it was going to be an intense game.”

That type of preparation paid off as the Cavaliers outlasted Cramerton in five sets (23-25, 25-17, 25-19, 24-26, 15-10) on Friday for their fifth straight Gaston County middle school title.

Alisha Fisher had 17 kills and nine aces to lead Friday, which wrapped up an 11-1 season. The Cavaliers have won every county volleyball title since Stanley claimed the first three from 2005 to 2007.

Chloe Hamilton added five kills and two aces while Bristol McKee had 30 assists, five kills and five aces for Friday, which avenged its only loss. Cramerton (11-1) had defeated the Cavaliers 3-1 early in the season.

Pasour said her team got off to a slow start to the season as she transitioned from coaching North Gaston High School’s volleyball team to a conference championship. The high school season extended into late October — just before middle school games began.

The much-improved Cavaliers showed their resolve on Friday after they dropped the first set 25-23.

“They didn’t give in,” Pasour said. “When they lost one set, they were like, ‘All right, let’s go to the next one.’”

Cramerton, looking for its first championship in five final appearances, got 10 assists from setter Annie Bradley and 21 service points and strong defensive effort from Audrey Emerson. Other contributors for the Eagles included Anna Armstrong (six kills), Maddie Poll (four kills), Destiny Duff (four kills) and Mikayla Thorpe (six assists).

“In the six years I’ve coached, God has blessed me with wonderful athletes and supportive families. This year is no exception,” Cramerton coach Loretta Matherlee said in a prepared statement. “I have loved coaching this team. … We pray every time we are together, thanking God for giving us the ability to play this game, and we also pray for each other.”

The match marked the second straight for Cramerton that went the full five sets. The Eagles, who will say goodbye to 11 eighth graders, had advanced with a 3-2 semifinal victory over Chavis.